Wisconsin forward Duje Dukan out 2 games after eligibility review

Wisconsin reserve forward Duje Dukan will sit out the first two games of the regular season for the third-ranked Badgers after a review of his eligibility, the

Wisconsin reserve forward Duje Dukan will sit out the first two games of the regular season for the third-ranked Badgers after a review of his eligibility, the school announced.

Dukan, a 6-10 senior, played in a closed scrimmage and an exhibition game during the beginning of the 2012-13 season and was stripped of his final season of eligibility.

The school said that it had gotten that year of eligibility back for Dukan, but NCAA rules say he must sit out two contests for every one played during the 2012-13 season.

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At the time, Dukan was recovering from mononucleosis and took the rest of the season off to recover, but did not receive a medical hardship waiver because his illness was not incapacitating for the entire season. As a result of playing in those two contests, Dukan was credited with a full season of completion.

Dukan did not play in an exhibition against UW-Parkside on Wednesday and will not suit up for Wisconsin’s game against Northern Kentucky on Friday and against Chattanooga two days later. Dukan will return to the active roster for Wisconsin’s game against Green Bay on Nov. 19.

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“We’d like to make it clear that Duje did nothing wrong in this situation,”  Wisconsin assistant athletic director of compliance Katie Smith said in a release. “We have exhausted every effort on Duje’s behalf to reduce the extent of the withholding, but unfortunately the rule does not provide an opportunity to appeal.”

Dukan averaged 2.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game last season for Wisconsin, helping the team reach the Final Four.

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